Italian Senate receives petition to ban livestock cages

A popular initiative law proposal to ban the use of cages in livestock farming for all food-producing species has been officially submitted to the Italian Senate. The petition, organized by the group Essere Animali under the ‘Gabbie Vuote’ (Empty Cages) campaign, collected 62,498 certified signatures via the Ministry of Justice platform.

Supported by a coalition of animal welfare organizations including LAV, ENPA, and OIPA, the initiative seeks to end farming practices that restrict the natural behaviors of animals such as chickens, rabbits, and sows. Proponents note that while certain cage types have been restricted in the EU since 2012, a comprehensive national ban is sought to address the estimated 40 million animals currently raised in cage systems in Italy.

The campaign also highlights a perceived delay from European institutions, noting that despite the ‘End the Cage Age’ European Citizens' Initiative, the European Commission has yet to finalize a definitive legislative path.